Towards a transnational system of supersites for forest monitoring and research in Europe - an overview on present state and future recommendations

Abstract

Science-based approaches in addressing future risks and challenges for forests require close collaboration among the communities operating different monitoring and research networks as well as experts in process and large-scale modelling. Results of the COST FP0903 conference which took place in October 2010 in Rome, reveal valuable results from different European forest monitoring and research networks. However, the need for closer integration of these activities is obvious. In this paper, representatives from major European networks recommend a new approach for forest monitoring and research in Europe, based on a reasonable number of highly instrumented “supersites” and a larger number of intensive monitoring plots linked to these. This system needs to be built on existing infrastructures but requires increased coordination, harmonisation and a joint long term platform for data exchange and modelling

Availability, accessibility, quality and comparability of monitoring data for European forests for use in air pollution and climate change science

“…At present, research into and monitoring of cli mate change and air pollution impacts on European forests are rather fragmented, with a number of different networks existing (Fischer et al 2011). COST Action FP0903 entitled "Climate Change and Forest Mitiga tion and Adaptation in a Polluted Environ ment" (COST 2010) creates a platform of experts from different fields and different networks, with the objectives of increasing understanding of the state and potential of forest mitigation and adaptation to climate change in a polluted environment and of re conciling process-oriented research, longterm monitoring and applied modelling at comprehensive forest research sites (super sites).…”

“…In an accompanying pa per, the same transnational forest monitoring and research networks in Europe are dis cussed in view of their potential to establish a transnational system of supersites for forest monitoring and research (Fischer et al 2011).…”

Latest Achievements on Climate Change and Forest Interactions in a Polluted Environment

“…As discussed above, Fischer et al (2011) recommend a new approach for forest monitoring and research in Europe, based on a reasonable number of highly instrumented supersites and a larger number of intensive monitoring plots linked to these. Supersites can integrate soil science, plant physiological, and atmospheric studies within experiments specifically designed to support both the development of new models and the validation of existing ones.…”

Towards the integration of research and monitoring at forest ecosystems in Europe

“…Using the information included in different international databases we might quantify the adaptation of forest ecosystems to these changing conditions. The European projects and networks on forest ecosystems, as the main focus of attention, were identified by Clarke et al, 2011;Fischer et al, 2011 andDanielewska et al, 2013, andare presented in Clarke et al, 2011;Fischer et al, 2011;Danielewska et al, 2013. 538 A. Danielewska et al / Forest Systems (2013 A detailed description of the measured variables along with the measurement units and the information about particular ERMNs are presented in the metadatabase elaborated within the frame COST Action FP0903 and described by Danielewska et al, (2013).…”

“…Level I includes the less equipped sites for the basic environmental parameters extensive monitoring, but covering larger ecological gradients and providing data with higher spatial resolution. Both measurement levels should be linked with each other in order to make data harmonization and efficient data flow possible Fischer et al, 2011). It is extremely important to combine the research efforts, undertaken in frame of Level II, with the different manipulative experiments such as: influence of the free-air enrichment of CO 2 or/and O 3 for tree stands, warming/heating experiments by using either controlled environmental chambers or whole experimental stands (heating cables, overhead infra red lamps, or indirect heating by the use of removable curtains), increasing N deposition by fertilizing or simulated elevated N deposition or decreasing by removal.…”